By Te Kāhu
In a deeply troubling case that has shocked the Bay of Plenty community, 22-year-old Phoebe Robertson, a childcare reliever, has been sentenced to 11 months’ home detention after being found with hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on her phones. The case, described as “perplexing” by Tauranga District Court Judge Stephen Coyle, raises serious concerns about the safety of our children and the growing scourge of online exploitation.
298 of the 602 videos discovered on Robertson’s devices were considered ‘Category A’: depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers and infants, with some involving sadism and bestiality.
Robertson admitted to police she had a “serious addiction to disgusting things,” describing the material as “grossly beautiful” – a statement Judge Coyle found deeply concerning.
She even told a report writer that, given internet access, she would likely continue seeking out such content, showing a disturbing lack of remorse for the victims behind these images.
Judge Coyle was clear: this is not a victimless crime. “Behind every image is a child who has been exploited sexually,” he said, emphasizing the real human cost of such offending. The judge rejected Robertson’s bid for permanent name suppression, holding her solely accountable for her actions, and warned that any further attempts to access CSAM during her home detention could lead to imprisonment.
The case came to light in July 2024, when the FBI arrested a suspect in the United States for distributing and receiving CSAM. Messages found on the suspect’s devices revealed exchanges with a New Zealander, later identified as Robertson, who was working at a local childcare centre. New Zealand’s Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) team acted swiftly, arresting her in October 2024. Thankfully, there is no evidence Robertson created any material herself, but her role as a childcare worker amplifies the gravity of her actions.
Robertson’s lawyer, David Pawson, called the case “very unusual,” citing her learning difficulties and past experiences with bullying. However, Judge Coyle noted that her supportive family was “blindsided” by her actions, with no apparent trauma or events to explain her behavior. The police sergeant argued for her inclusion on the Child Sex Offender Register, pointing to evidence that Robertson was beginning to take steps toward enacting her fantasies, a chilling escalation from being an “online voyeur.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards, head of OCEANZ, described the case as “extremely unusual,” particularly given Robertson’s age, gender, and position of trust as a childcare worker. He highlighted the disproportionate number of male offenders in such cases but stressed the growing prevalence of CSAM possession and distribution in New Zealand. “Behind every image is a real victim who has suffered the most extreme sexual abuse,” Richards said, underscoring the urgent need for law enforcement to combat this vile trade.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online and the importance of protecting our most vulnerable.
The judge set a starting point of four years and nine months’ imprisonment for the Robertson.
A 25% reduction was applied for her guilty plea, with an additional 25% discount for her youth, cognitive challenges, and mental health issues.
The defence sought a further reduction for her commitment to rehabilitation and the progress she had already made in this area.
The judge granted an additional 10% discount for her rehabilitation efforts but expressed concern about troubling statements she made to the pre-sentence report writer.
In total, her sentence was reduced by 60%. The judge noted that such a significant discount would not have been possible had she been arrested after recent changes to the law.
